Switching apparatus



March 9, 1937; ZI 2,073,330

SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed J'ax z. 15, 1955 wmxvzo/e m i BY.

Patented Mar. 9, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SWITCHING APPARATUS Werner Zingg,Zug, Switzerland, assignor to Landis & Gyr, A-G., a corporation ofSwitzerland Application January 15, 1935, Serial No. 1,873

In Switzerland 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to novel and useful improvements indistributors or switching apparatus and more particularly to such anapparatus adapted for use in connection with electricity meterscontrolled by frequency.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized 10 and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description serves to explain the principles of the invention.

The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic view illustrating thepresent preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to the controlof a multiple-rate electricity meter.

The invention provides an improved and novel distributor or switchingmechanism, especially capacitated for controlling multiple rate meters,of the type wherein the control and operation of the distributor iseffected by a plurality of devices, each coming into activity at apredetermined frequency to correspondingly position the distributor. Thedistributor will then remain in that position, and is movable therefromonly by actuation of another of said devices at its particular anddifferent frequency, the distributor being thereby moved to a positioncorresponding to this new frequency. Main objects of the presentinvention are to provide such a mechanism which is exceedingly simple inconstruction, unusually compact in structure, efficient in operation,and which requires practically a minimum of power for its operation.

In the present preferred embodiment, illustratively shown applied to amultiple rate electricity meter, a rotatable switching element con trolsthe current for a plurality of branch circuits corresponding to variousfrequencies and selectively operates the registering means accordingly.Said switching element is actuated and positioned to correspond to aparticular frequency being used by means of a plurality of devicesselectively operated by resonant reeds each responsive to a differentfrequency. Said actuating devices comprise a series of ratchet wheels,

.55 each having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth,

January 23, 1934 with an intervening smooth or discontinuous part, theseidle parts on the discs being angularly staggered to permit operation ofthe mechanism at any particular frequency and until there is a change infrequency.

Further advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter, and it willbe understood that the present embodiment is illustrative and exemplarybut is not necessarily restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawing, a rotary switch is shownas comprising an electrically conductive disc I, fixed on a rotatableshaft 2, journaled in the frame. The periphery of the disc I has a bare,current conducting portion 3 and an insulated portion 4, these two beingproportioned to the number of different frequencies which the device iscapacitated to record; that is, with three frequencies the insulatedportion would be approximately about 240 degrees of the periphery. Apair of brushes 9 and I0 contact with the periphery of the disc I, andin the present mechanism these are arranged preferably approximately, orslightly less than, degrees apart. A third brush II contacts with themetallic hub I2 of the disc I, so that a circuit is established throughthe disc whenever brush 9 or brush I0 contacts with the conductingportion 3. The brush II is connected by a wire I6 with one side of thepower circuit, and brush 9 by a wire I1, and brush II] by a wire I8, areconnected to the other side of the power circuit. In the circuit I! isan electro-magnet 2|, and in circuit I8 is an electro-magnet 22, thesemagnets controlling a suitable registering means. If desired, theregistering means may be the same or similar to that shown in Patent No.1,965,092, dated July 3, 1934, to Zenkner, the electro-magnets 2| and 22corresponding to the magnets 3| and 32 of that patent.

The embodied means for bringing the rotatable switching element I to theposition corresponding to a given frequency, and maintaining it thereuntil the frequency is changed, comprises a plurality of ratchet discs,shown as three in number, and indicated by reference numerals 21, 28 and29. These discs are likewise fixed on shaft 2, and each disc has on itsperiphery a series of ratchet teeth, with an intervening portion clevoidof teeth and preferably formed smooth and depressed. These idle portionson the three discs are in staggered relation to each other andpreferably correspond with the three switching positions of the rotatingswitch element l.

The embodied means for selectively operating the mutilated ratchetwheels and therewith the rotatable switching element I, to bring it toand maintain it in position to record a particular frequency, comprisesa plurality of frequency controlled and actuated devices, each of saiddevices actuating and controlling one of the selectively andalternatively operated ratchet wheels by means of a pawl mechanism, thepawl mechanism other than the one corresponding to the particularfrequency remaining idle. As embodied, there are three such'mechanisms,each having a resonant reed or spring 33, 33 and 33 Each spring iscapacitated to actuate a corresponding ratchet Wheel 34, 33 and 34 theseratchet wheels being loosely mounted-on the nonrotating shaft 35.Mounted loosely on a fixed shaft 38 are three lever arms, 39, 39 and'39and fixed on the end of these lever arms, respectively, and extendingoutwardly therefrom are three spring arms, having at their outer endspawls 4|, M and M the pawls being in operative relation, respectivelywith the ratchet wheel, 21, 28 and 29. The pawls are held in rearward orretracted position by light springs 42, 42 and 42 and simple andlight-acting mechanical devices are provided for operating the pawllevers from their actuating wheels. As embodied, each pawl lever isslotted, and journaled in the slots are cam rollers 43, 53 and 43 Fixedto the corresponding ratchet wheels, to rotate with the wheel, areeccentrically mounted cams 65, 45 and 45 It will be seen that only theparticular drive for the frequency which is being used is in operation,that the actuating means operates with practically negligible frictionand operates only against the resistance of a very light restoringspring, and the energy consumed in driving is very small. The actuatingmeans for springs or reeds 33 are not shown and may be of any desired oradequate form, and may be the same or similar to the means shown in thehereinbefore mentioned Patent No. 1,965,092.

In operation, a current of any given frequency might be employed tovibrate or actuate the member 33 and ratchet wheel 34* would becorrespondingly rotated. Eccentric cam 55* coacting with cam roller 43would advance pawl N and therewith ratchet wheel 29 and switch disc Iwould be correspondingly rotated to the position shown in the drawing.Upon the pawl 41 reaching the smooth part of wheel 29, the -mechanismwould remain in that position until a change is made to a differentfrequency. In this position electro-magnet 2| is energized and theregistering mechanism (not shown) is operated correspondingly. In thisposition of the mechanism, the two other pawls 4| and :3 l are inengagement with the ratchet teeth on their respective wheels 2'! and 28,so that, if the frequency were changed, either reed or spring 33 or 133would be actuated and the ratchet wheel 21 or 28 would be rotated untilits smooth part came under its pawl and switch disc 1 would bepositioned to cause the registration of this new frequency powerconsumption.

The invention in its broader aspects is not lim ited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages1 r What I claim is:

1. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch for controlling aplurality of circuits, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a pluralityof wheels fixed on the shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchetteeth with an intervening smooth portion, said smoothportions beingangularly staggered relatively to each other, a pawl mechanism for eachof the ratchet wheels and a plurality of frequency controlled means forselectively operating the pawl mechanisms whereby the shaft is broughtto a desired position and is moved from that position only by theselective operation of another of the pawl mechanisms.

2. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch for controlling aplurality of circuits, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a wheelfixed on the shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with anintervening smooth portion, a pawl lever and pawl coacting with saidratchet wheel, a cam roller mounted on said pawl lever, a ratchet wheeland a cam rotating therewith and coacting with said cam roller, andfrequency controlled means for rotating said last mentioned ratchetwheel.

3. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch for controlling aplurality of circuits, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a wheelfixed on the shaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with anintervening smooth portion, a pawl lever and pawl coacting with saidratchet wheel, means for actuating said pawl lever, and frequencycontrolled means for calling said actuating means into operation.

4. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling aplurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a wheelfixed thereon having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with. anintervening smooth peripheral portion, a spring arm having a pawlthereon'engaging said teeth, a pivoted arm on which said spring arm ismounted, and frequency controlled means for oscillating said pivotedarm.

5. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling aplurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a wheelfixed thereon having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with anintervening smooth peripheral portion, a spring arm having a pawlthereon engaging said teeth, a pivoted arm on which said spring arm ismounted, a ratchet wheel, frequency controlled means for rotatingsaid-last mentioned ratchet wheel, and connections from said ratchetwheel for oscillating said arm. I

6. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling aplurality of circuits, in combination a wheel fixed on a switch rotatingshaft and having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth with an interveningsmooth peripheral portion, actuating means for said wheel including aspring arm with a pawl at the end thereof engaging said ratchet teeth,means for longitudinally re,- ciprocating said spring arm including aratchet wheel and frequency controlled means for rotating said ratchetwheel.

7. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling aplurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, aplurality of wheels fixed thereon and having arcuate series of ratchetteeth with an intervening smooth portion, said smooth portions beingangularly staggered relatively to each other, independently operableactuating devices for said ratchet wheels, said devices including alongitudinally reciprocable, laterally yieldable spring arm with a pawlat the end thereof engaging a ratchet wheel, and separate frequencycontrolled means for reciprocating the various spring pawl arms, theremaining pawl arms yielding laterally when one pawl arm islongitudinally reciprocated to rotate its ratchet wheel.

8. In an operating mechanism for a rotatable switch controlling aplurality of circuits, in combination a switch rotating shaft, a wheelfixed 10 thereon having an arcuate series of ratchet teeth and anintervening smooth peripheral portion, actuating means for said wheelincluding a long spring arm with a pawl at one end engaging said ratchetteeth, and frequency operating means for longitudinally reciprocatingsaid spring arm to turn the wheel, said arm yielding laterally whenstationary to permit the ratchet teeth to move forward beneath the arm.

